By NATION REPORTER
OUTRAGE and consternation have erupted with a demand for severe retribution over the drowning of 14 people on Lake Bangweulu following revelations that the boat was not only overcrowded but that passengers did not have life jackets.
The boat which had a capacity of 16 people was carrying 44 people. Of those 14 drowned, six bodies have been retrieve while 25 others were rescued. Northern Province Commanding Officer, Gloria Mulele has confirmed that the search for other missing persons has continued.
Among those who have drowned are youths from Kashitu Seveth Day Adventist Church(SDA ) who were travelling from Muchinshi to Chishi Island when the accident happened.
District officials have called for severe retribution and punishment for the boat operators and church leaders who disregarded standard operating procedure and thereby exposed victims to the tragedy.
The government has meanwhile engaged the marine unit of the Zambia Army to help in the search for the missing persons. Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Bernard said government was doing everything possible to ensure that the missing persons recovered.
The death of the SDA youths comes barely two years after six youths belonging to the SDA church perished on Lake Kariba.
Luapula Province minister Derricky Chilundika has disclosed that the Defence Force personnel Zambia Airforce has been engaged to undertake rescue operations on Lake Bangweulu were 14 members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church drowned.
Mr Chilundika said the incident was tragic and that government relayed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family.
“It’s very unfortunate but ZAF has given us a helicopter to help in the rescue operations so that more people could be rescued,” he said.
And Chilubi District Commissioner Listo Mushembe said the boat capsized after being hit by strong winds on the lake a few minutes after take-off from Chilubi Island.
He said the crew from the near by government vessel Luchele Nganga which was on the Lake managed to save 24 people.
The DC further disclosed that marines from Luapula province will be proceeding to Chilubi Island on the Lake Bangweulu to retrieve the reaming bodies.
And Mr Mushembe cautioned residents of Chilubi and vessel operators to abide by all safety regulations when moving on the waters. He also appealed to government to buy more stable vessels to ease movements between the two Islands of Chishi and Chilubi, stating that it was unfortunate that people had died in such a manner.
Six bodies from lake Bangweule boat accident retrieved
And Chilubi District Administrative Officer, Dieudonne Lupasha said the bodies that had been retrieved would be put in a central place and later taken to either Samfya or Mansa mortuary. “The district has no mortuary but what we are trying to do is keep the retrieved bodies at a central place, then at an opportune time, we will be able to transfer them to either Samfya or Mansa mortuary,” he said.
